In his first Christmas message as a monarch, Britain’s King Charles III sounded the sincere solidarity of people across the recession-hit United Kingdom, reflecting on the worsening cost of breathing crisis. Dressed in a blue suit the 74-year-old hosted his first formal Christmas since the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. Addressing the nation from the Windsor Castle chapel where his mother was interred in September, Charles said that Christmas is a quite poignant time for all of us who have lost loved ones. We feel their want at every familiar turn of the season and remember them in each cherished tradition.
The King also made a change to the way the Christmas letter used to be delivered – addressing standing up instead of formally from behind a desk, and his themes revolved more around current social issues of the country.
Charles expressed the impact of the country’s growing economic woes, taking note of the great anxiety and hardship for those facing conflict, starvation, or natural disaster and those at home struggling to pay their bills and keep their families fed and warm.
King Charles emphasized the cost of living crisis and the great anxiety and hardship of many operating to pay their bills and keep their families fed and warm in his first Christmas broadcast.
In the message, the nation is in the grip of economic woes, and against the backdrops of the war in Ukraine, the king dedicates a part of his broadcast to those who help to ease the plight of others.
Footage of food banks and meals distributed to the needy featured prominently as he hailed the wonderfully kind people who had donated food or their time.
Delivered from the quire of St George’s Chapel, Windsor, where the late Queen Elizabeth II had also revealed her Christmas message in 1999, the monarch paid homage to his mother and recognized others who had lost loved ones.
Addressing those of all beliefs and none, he said spiritual communities were among those helping others in financial difficulties. He also commended the volunteers, charity workers, healthcare workers, and others who had stepped up to help in times of adversity.
On his main theme of selfless dedication, he said it could be seen “in our armed forces and emergency services who work tirelessly to keep us all safe.
We see it in our health and colonial care professionals, our teachers, and indeed all those working in public benefit, whose skill and commitment are at the heart of our communities.
At this time of significant anxiety and hardship be it for those around the world facing conflict, famine, or natural catastrophe or for those at home finding ways to pay their bills and keep their families fed and warm, see it in the humanity of people throughout our countries and the Commonwealth who so readily respond to the difficulty of others.
“I particularly like to pay a tribute to all wonderfully kind people who charitably given food or assistance or that most precious commodity of all their time to support around in greatest need together with the many charitable organization does such extraordinary work in the most difficult circumstances.”
Of his Anglican faith, he shared the profound impact on him of visiting the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem some years ago, the site Christians celebrate as the birthplace of Jesus. It meant more to me than I can express to stand on that spot where, as the Bible tells us, the light that has come into the world was born.
The pre-recorded announcement began with him reflecting on standing so close to where my beloved mother is laid to rest with my dear father in the George VI Memorial Chapel as he thanked the people for the love and sympathy expressed in cards and messages of condolence.
Of his loss, he said Christmas is a particularly poignant time for all of us who have lost loved ones. We handle their absence at every familiar turn of the season and remember them in each cherished tradition. He shared the late Queen’s faith in people and the religious belief in the power of light overcoming darkness, he said.
The broadcast contained footage of the armed forces and trouble services at work. It also showed the heart of the royal family as it now is. The Prince and Princess of Wales are shown, on a visit to Swansea. Other members of the regal family, were shown at various events, including the Earl and Countess of Wessex. But there were no pictures or references to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
Charles hosted Christmas Day at Sandringham with components of the royal family making their classic Christmas Day walk to St Mary Magdalene church on the Norfolk estate.
The king and the queen consort led components of the royal family as they walked to St Mary Magdalene church, Sandringham, for the first Christmas Day service since the death of Queen Elizabeth II. The Duke of York walked with them as a family member, though he no extended any public role and is no longer a working royal.
For the first time, the Prince and Princess of Wales obtained their youngest son, Louis, four, who joined his siblings George, nine, and Charlotte, seven. Other royals who walked into the church past a small group of components of the public, contained Andrew’s daughters, Beatrice and Eugenie, and the Earl and Countess of Wessex.
